Clasp



(No Model.)

I. .V. FORD.

GLASP.

Patented Nov. 1,1881.

N, PETERS. Photwlimu m lmr. Washington. D. C.

lJNiTED STATES PATENT Orric n.

ISAAC V. FORD, OF TROY, NEIV YORK.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,032, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed September 1, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC V. FORD, of the city of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in clasps for stocking-supporters and similar articles; and the general objects of my improvements are to produce a clasp having very effective means for easily and securely attaching the clasp to and detaching it from the top part of a stocking or similar flexible fabric without injuring the latter, and to provide very simple means for cheaply securing a webbing to the plate of a clasp and along the rear side thereof, so that the webbing shall prevent the plate from coming in contact with the person of the wearer, and so that the webbing can be readily detached from the clasp and resecured thereto directly by hand alone.

In the aforesaid drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are plans of one of my improved clasps without a webbing secured thereto, and showing its jointed clasping-arm in different positions. Fig. 4. is an edge elevation of the same clasp with its jointed arm in the position shownin Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a partial central longitudinal section of the same clasp with itsjointed arm in the position represented in Fig.3. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same clasp with a webbing secured thereto and the clasp open. Fig. 7 is a plan, and Fig. 8 a longitudinal section, of the same clasp and webbing, and clasping a fabric as in use. Fig. 9 is a plan of another of my improved clasps when open and without a webbing; and Fig. 10isa plan, and Fig. 11 an edge elevation, of the same clasp when grasping a fabric. Fig. 12 is a plan of another of my improved clasps without a webbing and open; and Fig. 13 is a plan of the same when closed, as in clasping a fabric.

Like letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

A is a plate, having a stud, B, formed with a head, 0, and projecting from one side of one end portion of the plate.

D E is a flat arm, which has a pivot-joint,f, therein, and is secured by a pivot, g, at one end part to the other end portion of the plate A, so that the arm D E can be bent and straightened (No model.)

at its jointf and turned or swung laterally about the pivot g, substantially as indicated in the drawings. The other or swinging end partof the arm D E is t'orked or formed with a recess, 1, between two extensions, jj, so that this end part of the arm will enter and extend under the head 0 of the stud B, with the parts jj atopposite sides of the stem it of the stud, when the jointed arm shall be turned, placed, and straightened into the position represented in Figs. 3, 7, '10, or 13.

In attaching this clasp to the fabric of a stocking or garment, the fabric Z is first placed on the head of the stud B, while the jointed arm D E is withdrawn and turned away from the stud, as in Figs. 1, 6, 9, or 12, and then the jointed arm is turned back over the fabric on the stud and adjusted thereto and straightened, with its end part under the head of the stud, and the partsjj on opposite sides of its stem is, substantially as represented in Figs. 7 and 8 or 10 and 11, whereby the fabric is forced under the head of. the stud, and there securely held by and between the stud and the forked or recessed end part of the jointed arm. To release the fabric the arm D E is bent laterally at itsjointf, and its swinging end is turned or moved away from the stud B, as in Figs. 1, 6, 9, or 12.

In the clamp represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 thejointed arm has the recess 2' in the form of a. perforation, wider and larger than the head of the stud. I, however, commonly prefer to have the recess t of less width than the head 0 of the stud,but wider than its stem k, as represented in Figs. 9, 10, 12, and 13,and in such case I make the side parts,jj, either separate at their ends, as in Figs.9 and 10, or connected, as in Figs. 12 and 13, in the form of a loop, which can be passed over the head of the stud with the fabric Z thereon.

To assist in preventing accidental displacement of thejointed arm D E from its straightened position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, 7 and 8, or 10 and 11, I sometimes make the part A. with a raised stop, y, Figs. 10 and 11, or make the contiguous surfaces of the parts A and D with a projection on one to fitin a depression in the other, as at m in Fig. 8.

To provide very simple means whereby a webbing can be quickly, cheaply, and firmly secured to and along the rear side of the plate of a clasp without any stitching ofthe webbing, I form one end part of the plate with a trans verse slot, 7, and bar m, and make the other end part of the plate with the two slots at 0 and two bars,p q, parallel to the slotland bar m, substantially as shown in and by the ac companying drawings.

The webbing t, Figs. 6, 7, S, is firmly combined with and secured to the clasp-plate A by having the end part, 8, Fig. 8, of the webbing against the back side of the plate and the webbing extended theret'rom through the slot l and closely over and around the bar m, and thence across the end part, 8, of the webbing and along the back side of the plate to and through the slot at and over the bar 7), through the slot 0, and under the bar q, all substantially as shown by Figs. 8, 7, and 6.

It is evident from Fig. 8 that the combination of the webbing with the clasp-plate shown in that figure can be quickly made directly by hand alone, and that the webbing can likewise be quickly removed from and resecnted to the plate whenever the webbing shall need to be cleansed or renewed,

It is also evident that the wcbbingeould be stitched together at tr, Fig. 8, if desired, in combining it with the clasp-plate, as shown in that figure.

It will be observed that in order to adapta clasp to have a webbing secured tightly thereto and along the rear side of its plate, in the manner above described, and shown in the drawings, and without interfering with the action or use of the clasping device, it is important that the plate and its said bars shall be sub stantially flat, or without interfering projections on its rear side, and that the slots l a 0 shall be of suitable uniform length, and that the movable part of the clamping device shall not project in rear of the back surface of the plate.

I am aware that prior to my invention a clasp has been made with a webbing arranged behind the clasp, and with a headed stud or button and a metallic loop adapted for enga-ge' ment with the neck of the button or headed stud.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A clasp composed of a plate, A, having aheaded stud, 'B, and the jointed arm D E, pivoted at one end to the plate, and having its other end formed with a recess, 1', between lateral partsjj, and adapted to be forcibly inserted and held under the head of the stud and withdrawn therefrom by said jointed arm, substautially as described.

2. A clasp having its plate furnished with devices for clasping a garment, and formed at one end with the transverse slot l and bar at and at its other end with the parallel slotsno and bars 12 q, and the whole adapted, as set forth, to have a webbing tightly secured to the plate and along its rear side, in the manner described, without interfering with the action or use of the clasping devices.

3. The combination, with a clasp having its plate furnished with devices torclasping a garment, and formed at one end with the slot 1 and bar on and at the other end with the slots at 0 and bars 1) q, of the webbing R, having an end, 3, against the back of the plate, and extending therefrom through the slot 1, over and around the bar m, across the end 8, and along the back of the plate to and through the slot at, over bar 1), and through slot 0, as set forth.

In testimony \vhereofI hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of August, 1881.

ISAAC V. FORD.

\Vitnesses:

AUSTIN F. PARK, James T. GooDFELLow. 

